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Oh man, I could beat this topic with a broken stick until it returned back to life. Rampage athletes get an appearance fee ever since 2015. Why not the slope guys? Most the slope guys dont actually make that much. I did Pretty good for 15 years. Id average probably 65K USD all said and done over those 15 years. Less when I started and the bigger years in the middle. That is sponsorships and winnings and any travel budgets. BUT I would spend at least 30k of that on traveling and expenses. So that 3k a month before taxes...

If the fans are paying a gate fee, the riders should be getting paid at a minimum to show up. Like every other stick and ball sport with a paid venue. The lowest level MLS guys and CFL guys doing it for the "love of the game" with small niche audiences are still getting enough salary to pay rent, even though it is terrible pay compared to big USA league sports.

Some of you are missing the fact that the riders aren't asking their frame and parts sponsors to pay more. Just Red Bull, who make a mint off of these life threatening events.

While no athlete is ever owed a living by anyone, when (edit: or if) the organisers are making money by selling tickets and advertising, then the competitors are absolutely within their rights to expect appearance fees, IMNSHO. The riders are the singular reason the whole circus exists!

Love all these people claiming that the riders are wrong for asking for this. These guys put their life on the line for crankworx and redbull to make money. They should receive an appearance fee. It’s the pinnacle of the sport. I sure as hell wouldn’t be doing backflips off two story buildings, but I’d race the same track that the downhill guys do. So don’t make that comparison.

Without the athletes you do not have a show to put on... So ya, they should be paid a base amount to compete, that goes for all professional disciplines where a gate fee is charged to watch the event.

Weather they get what they want or not is not something that I will loose sleep over, but good on them for sticking together to prove a point.

This is what essentially tore the golf world in half. Do you get paid to show up no matter what or do you get paid to win? The difference is golf pays half the field at least something. Despite Crankworx paying out significantly more than a world cup, or any other MTB event for that matter, no one has beaten Emil in like 4 years. Then Godziek comes on the scene and is essentially a podium lock which leaves the rest of the field competing for one paycheque. Appearance fees are a slippery slope, I could see the podium contenders...

Rampage afaik...

Robert from The Loam Wolf here. I was the one who broke the Scalpel, and I’m not surprised I did - overshot the landing of a large jump for an XC bike, landing in the pocket between the landing and the flat ground after it. Huge bottom out. I corrected Kaz at Pinkbike’s quote - he had flatteringly guessed me to be 190lbs, whereas I am 220lbs. Nothing fishy. I wholeheartedly believe the Scalpel is fit for purpose and that it was my fault! Was having far too much fun and got carried away.

To be fair, they also had ads referencing the Santa Cruz Blur and Specialized Epic.

Yeti was taking pot shots at the scalpel too in a few of their new asr adds adds mage widget image widget

Coil negative springs are bad engineering at this point. Coil negative springs only available in one weight is just sloppy customer care.

Some custom decals, maybe some chrome and red, like the old Z1 Atom Bombs would be cool. Its not my bag either, like a poor interpretation of minimalist design Could be worse, could be mrzcch bmbr.... I hate that I even typed that

Looks like the new Marzocchi 38 chassis is close to being unveiled.

Rocky Mountain are doing full SRAM builds since T-Type, go check 2024 Instinct builds. RM are also associated with IFHT films (Mahalo) so it's not that unlikely that a new promo video for the 2024 Altitude will be made by them.

What really bothers me is that Lewis brakes CHOSE to MIMIC the way Trickstuff brakes look. Hope/Trickstuff/Intend/Sram/Shimano/Hayes/TRP all look pretty distinguishable, even between some of their own models. It's not how brakes are made is a secret anymore. You have a lever that pushes a piston that pushes fluid that pushes another set of pistons. Sure you can add cams here, adjustments there, play with leverage ratio, fancy cnc, parts, it doesn't really change the way brakes work fundamentally. Not discrediting the manufacturing of these brakes in any way. For a set of the more pricy Lewis brakes you can...

*asks for guys to only let lawyers discuss IP. *Proceeds to discuss geopolitical situations across the globe.